Living As Salt and Light. Salt, Light and a City on a Hill CD4437

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1 Living As Salt and Light Salt, Light and a City on a Hill CD4437 I. Our Privilege and Responsibility A. Our nation needs to be changed, it can be changed, we are the people to change it. B. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) 1. The standard for all true Christians 2. The revealed will of God C. Jesus gives three facts (vv ): 1. We are the salt of the earth 2. We are the light of the world 3. We are a city set on a hill II. Implications of These Three Statements: A. A city set on a hill that cannot be hid 1. Once we confess faith in Christ, we become conspicuous 2. People analyze us: Is it genuine? B. We are the light of the world 1. The makes it exclusive: we are the light; there is no other a) While He was in the world, Jesus was the light (John 9:5) b) As His representatives we are the light of the world. 2. O.T. Tabernacle: The Holy Place a) The oil filled Candlestick illuminated the Table of Showbread b) Oil = the Holy Spirit; the Bread = Jesus Christ (Bread of Life) c) Christians are ONLY to cast light on Jesus Christ C. We are the salt of the earth. 1. The makes it exclusive the ONLY salt of the earth. 2. Salt gives flavor to the earth 3. Salt is a preservative holds back corruption 4. Salt that has lost its savor is good for nothing III. The Church Alone Has This Unique Position (Eph. 6:12) A. We are in a wrestling match not against flesh and blood (people) B. Spirit persons in unseen realms (2 Cor. 4; Eph. 2:1 3) C. The unseen dictates the course of events IV. Reality of the Unseen Realm A. Ezekiel 28: Prince of Tyrus and King of Tyrus B. Isaiah 14:12 14 Morning star Lucifer 1. Self is the root (Matt. 3:10; 16:24) 2. Root of all problems is rebellion (2 Thess. 2:3) C. Daniel 10:2: Daniel fasted. Answer delayed three weeks. D. Isaiah 24:21 Final judgments of the age. The Lord will punish: 1. The host of high ones (invisible, spiritual beings) 2. The kings of earth (visible, carnal rulers) E. Our Spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3 5) not carnal: bullets, tanks and guns but spiritual: casting down reasonings, imaginations, knowledge, thoughts Victory in Jesus CD4438

2 Proclamation: We are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? we are thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. I. The Basis of All Spiritual Victory A. One scriptural fact: Christ has already totally defeated all enemies B. Two created realms: heaven/invisible, earth/visible (Col. 1:16) 1. Four orders of invisible realm (in order): thrones, dominions (lordships), principalities (rulerships) and powers (authorities) 2. Revelation 4: thrones highest level in the universe C. Sin did not begin on earthly realm 1. God created Lucifer he became Satan when he rebelled 2. Sin began on principality level with Satan 3. Rebel empire opposed to God and God s kingdom 4. Satan involved the Adamic race D. By His death on the cross, Jesus has: (Col. 2:13 15) 1. Forgiven all trespasses (v. 13) 2. Made an end to the Law as a means of righteousness (v. 14) 3. Defeated and triumphed over principalities and powers (v. 15) (See also Eph. 2:15; Romans 10:4; 7:4; 6:14; Luke 11:21 22) II. Basis on Which Satan s Defeat Is True A. The record of the original creation of Adam (Gen. 1:26) 1. Made in God s image (outward/appearance) and likeness (inward/moral/spiritual). 2. Adam resembled God 3. God said, Let them have dominion the whole human race B. Everything lost to Adam was restored through Christ (Psalm 69:4) 1. Adam s domain: all the earth even the birds of the air 2. Adam sold out all creation to the devil 3. Satan tempted Jesus with power (authority) delivered (betrayed) to him by Adam (Luke 4:5 6) 4. Satan was the legal master of the dominion a. The prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30) b. The prince of the power [authority] of the air (Eph. 2:2) 5. God hands dominion back to us, as in Gen. 1:26 III. Application 1 Cor. 15:45, 47 A. Jesus: The last Adam The Second Man End of the Adamic race New man, head of a new race B. Jesus made man called Himself Son of Man [Adam] 80 times (1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:21; Is. 53:6) C. Jesus rose on the third day the first begotten from the dead (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5; Ps. 89:26 27; Ps. 2:4) D. Not just Jesus, but God has also begotten US again (1 Pet. 1:3) 1. Jesus identified with us so we could identify with Him 2. Quickened together, raised together, made to sit together in heavenly places (Eph. 2:5 6; Hosea 6:2) E. Jesus gave rule back to us (Matthew 28:18 19; John 20:21) 1. Not to do our own will, but the will of Him who sent us 2. The Father does the work 3. The words that we speak are not our words 4. He that has seen us has seen the Father F. Even so send I you. Jesus Weapons of Our Warfare CD4439

3 I. Recap A. Church has a unique responsibility (Matt. 5:13) B. Jesus triumphed over principalities and power (Col. 2:15) C. In Christ, we triumph always in every place (2 Cor. 2:14) D. All power has been given to Jesus (Matt. 28:18 19)... we demonstrate it (John 20:21) II. Spiritual Weapons (2 Cor. 10:3 5) A. Weapons are not carnal B. Thoughts brought into captivity behind C. Main spiritual weapons 1. Prayer 1. Fasting 2. Praise 3. Testimony 4. Preaching 5. Supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit III. Prayer (Matt. 18:18 20) A. Binding and loosing B. One of two times Jesus used the word church (v. 18) 1. This refers to local church (Matt. 16 refers to universal church) 2. Local church starts with 2 or 3 led together 3. Body / made up of cells C. Ask anything D. Two or three led together by the Holy Spirit (verse 20; Rom. 8:14) Into the name of Jesus one authorized basis E. Source of all power (verses 18 20) 1. Surrounded by a fence of right relationships 2. One cannot be wrong with man and right with God F. If two agree on earth = in symphony, harmony (verse 19) 1. Conductor = Holy Spirit 2. Score = The will of God revealed by the Holy Spirit 3. Husband and wife (1 Pet. 3:7 prayers not hindered) IV. Basic Need of the Christian Church: Prayer (1 Tim. 2:1 4) A. First item on the list: kings, those in authority B. What to pray for: good government (Is. 1:7 Picture of the U.S. today) C. God favors good government (verse 3) D. Opportunity for all to hear the gospel (verse 4) E. Don t criticize PRAY! F. Ask anything according to His will (1 John 5:14 15) G. SO: Good government is the will of God. God hears us. We have what we ask for. Why don t we have what we ask for? We don t pray. 2 Cor. 1:20: Every promise in the Bible that applies to my situation and meets my need is for me now. H. If God s people will do 4 things (2 Chron. 7:14) 1. Humble ourselves 2. Pray 3. Seek God s face 4. Turn from wicked ways (also things you re NOT doing) I. Then God will do 3 things: 1. Hear from heaven 2. Forgive your sin 3. Heal your land

4 Prayer Changes the Outcome CD4440 I. Recap A. We can participate in spiritual conflict (Eph. 6:12) B. God has spoiled the principalities and powers (Col. 2:15) C. Spiritual weapons provided: prayer, fasting, praise, testimony, preaching, supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit D. Prayer (Matt. 18:18 20) 1. Bind and loose 2. Two agree the place of all power 3. Fenced in by right relationships E. Pattern/progression of prayer (1 Tim. 2:1 4) 2. First responsibility of church = pray 2. For kings and all in authority 3. For good government 4. So that all might be saved F. If we pray in God s will, He hears us, and we have what we pray for (1 John 5:14 15) G. Humble ourselves and pray = God will heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14) II. III. Prayers in National and International Affairs A. Western Desert Force in World War II 1. Problem: Officers selfish, morale low 2. Prayer: Lord, give us leaders such that it will be for Your glory to give us victory through them. 3. Answer: Command change to Montgomery (born again Christian) who prayed: Let us ask the Lord mighty in battle to give us the victory. B. State of Israel in Problem: Jewish people ambushed cut into pieces 2. Prayer: Lord, paralyze the Arabs. 3. Answer: Soldier said, It is just as if [the Arabs] were paralyzed. C. Mission in London, 1950s 1. Problem: Stalin was planning a fresh persecution of the Jews in Russia 2. Prayer: Congregation set aside a day of prayer and fasting for Jews in Russia 3. Answer: Less than a week later, Stalin was dead D. Kenya, East Africa, Problem: Mau Mau uprising fearful, bestial civil war 2. Prayer: God said, Only the supernatural power of the prayer of My people can turn away the troubles that are coming upon Kenya. 3. Answer: Jomo Kenyatta took a strong stand against Communism and turned them out As sinners, we have nothing good to give God except what He has given us God must give a prayer by the Holy Spirit first THEN we pray (Rom. 8:26 27) E. French President de Gaulle, Problem: being a nuisance trying to devalue the U.S. dollar 2. Prayer: God, You deal with de Gaulle. 3. Answer: France staggered under fearful crisis F. Communist hindrance 1. Problem: Hindrance to God in the world 2. Prayer: Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues (Ps. 55:9) 3. Answer: Russia and China split. Internal strife inside Red China. Satellite nations of E. Europe broke away from Soviet Russia Other Matters of Prayer for Derek A. Situation in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

5 IV. 1. Problem: Unseen powers, spiritual darkness 2. Prayer: In the name of Jesus, because of the finished work of Calvary, I stand against them. I resist Satan in the name of Jesus. B. Scripture Ask of Me and I shall give thee the heathen [Gentiles] for thine inheritance (Ps. 2:6 8). C. High praise in your mouth, two edged sword to execute vengeance on the heathen [nations]: This honor have all His saints (Ps. 149:5 9) D. Abraham s seed shall possess the gate of his enemies (Genesis 22:17) Application A. Most natural agreement is between husband and wife B. Last word in the Old Testament is curse 1. The breakup of the home to avert this curse, God needs to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice versa 2. Husband and wife first, children later Fasting Brings Restoration 4441 I. Recap A. Jesus: the Last Adam, the second Man C. The new man is destined to fulfill the purpose Adam failed to fulfill D. Matt. 28 All authority given to Me Go, ye, therefore... E. Visible representatives of Christ II. III. Joel The Last Days, the Great Outpouring A. Theme: desolation (ch. 1), restoration (ch. 2), judgment (ch. 3) B. Multitudes in the valley of decision no neutrality C. Two trees: the vine (Church) and the fig tree (Israel) Luke Restoration of the two trees on a parallel in time 2. Israel nationally and geographically 3. Church spiritually D. Infiltrated by the forces of the enemy E. Key word: Restoration one fold and one shepherd 1. Executors of His purposes on earth intimately involved 2. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven responsibility is ours F. Major means of restoration: Fasting 1. The deliberate abstention from food for a certain period 2. The fast God has chosen (Is. 58:6 12) a. Ineffective fast: wrong motive b. Acceptable fast: THEN light break forth (Ezek. 20) 3. Fasting will not give anything outside of God s will 4. Things in the will of God that never come but by fasting 5. One essential step back to God: Fasting G. Bones of Saul and his son buried (1 Sam. 33:13) Compare course of events in 1 and 2 Samuel: 1. 1 Samuel: Disobedience, defeat, division, and disaster 2. 2 Samuel: Restoration, reunification, victory, and conquest 3. Last verse of 1 Samuel: they fasted 7 days and changed history Figures of Divine Restoration A. Daniel, reading Jeremiah, knew the time of desolation was nearly finished. (ch. 9) 1. He identified himself with God s purpose 2. Was challenged to participate 3. Set his face with fasting and prayer (v. 3) B. Ezra was to lead exiles and take treasures of the temple back to Jerusalem (ch. 8) 1. How to get through safely? Spiritually or carnally?

6 IV. 2. He proclaimed a fast and the hand of God delivered them (v. 31) C. Nehemiah sat down and wept and fasted (ch. 1) D. Esther: Haman sought to destroy entire population of Jews (ch. 3) 1. Mordecai put on sackcloth 2. Esther was called on to change the destiny of her people 3. She called for a fast before approaching the king E. With the position goes the responsibility F. Joel prophet of latter day outpouring 1. Demands cooperation from the people 2. Fasting and prayer (1:14; 2:12, 16), esp. ministers and elders G. Ezek. 36 restoration of Israel: I will yet... do it Fasting in the New Testament A. Matt. 6: charter for all Christians: Sermon on the Mount 1. When ye give alms 2. When ye pray 3. When ye (plural) fast... when thou (singular) fast B. When the Bridegroom (Jesus) is taken away, then they will fast (Mark 8:18) C. Acts 13: They ministered to the Lord and fasted D. Acts 14:23: Appointed elders, formed churches with prayer and fasting (2 Cor. 6) E. If you want N.T. results, you have to use N.T. methods. Witnesses to Him CD4442 I. Recap: A. Each one has an aspect of God s wisdom to bring forth B. We are, collectively, a manifold (many sided) revelation of God to the world C. Fasting: No greater weapon available to the people of God 1. Whole course of events can be changed (ex. Dunkirk) 2. Pride and self sufficiency are barriers 3. Elijah s pronouncement of God s judgment on Ahab (1 Kings 21) 4. First requirement: humble yourself 5. In subjection to the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9) D. Book of Lamentations: written too late, as the judgment of God had already come 1. We are not consumed because of the Lord s mercies (Lam. 3:22 29:) 2. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth (v. 27) II. Another Tremendous Means to Gain the Victory: The Power of Testimony A. Acts 1:8, Jesus gave His final words 1. We are to be witnesses: in everything we say and do 2. Witnesses unto Him: not an experience, but Jesus Christ 3. Extended to the uttermost part of the earth B. Derek s personal testimony C. The Lord s heart: the uttermost part of the earth 1. God s plan: 12 disciples 2. No other alternative D. John 12:31 32: the prince of the world be cast out at the cross. 1. The devil cannot get past the cross 2. God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us to the kingdom of His dear son (Ps. 35:3; Col. 1:13) E. If I be lifted up our responsibility I will draw all men unto me (John 12:32) F. Right thinking/talking: 1. Psalm 77:12: Meditate on thy work and talk of thy doings

7 2. Joshua 1:8: This book of the law shall not depart meditate day and night: think, speak, act 3. Rom. 10:9 10: Confess with the mouth, believe with the heart 4. Phil. 4:8: Think on these things a. Direct your mind b. Cultivate right habits 5. Phil. 3:3: Worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, have no confidence in the flesh 6. Psalm 34:1 3: Bless, praise, boast in, magnify the Lord 7. Psalm 71:8, 23 24: Mouth filled with His praise 8. Psalm 105:1 3: Give thanks, make known His deeds 9. Psalm 145:1 12: Extol, bless, praise, speak, make known The Spirit Bears Witness CD4443 I. Recap: Testimony, Spiritual Weapon That Brings about the Will of God A. We are to accomplish His will B. How to do this? The Bible makes it perfectly clear we are to lift up the name of Jesus and be His witnesses II. III. Rev. 12:7 11: A Picture of the End Time Conflict A. David s conflict: Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues! (Psalm 55:9) B. Rev. 12:7 11: universal conflict 1. They (the saints) overcame him (Satan) 2. The weak things put to naught the mighty 3. How? By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. They were committed. They loved not their lives to the death. What It Means to Overcome by the Blood and Testimony A. To testify personally what the Word of God says the blood of Jesus does for you. B. Christ is the Passover Lamb, He who takes away the sin of the world (Ex. 12) 1. The blood in the basin was ineffective 2. Hyssop used to strike the blood upon the lintel and doorposts C. Christ our Passover has been slain 1. We apply the blood of the Lamb to our lives for protection 2. Hyssop = the tongue, the words of our mouth IV. Examples of Personal Testimony: A. Eph. 1:7: Redemption in Christ we are bought back out of the hand of the devil. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Ps. 107:2) Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil. Through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven. B. 1 John 1:7: The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, God s Son, is cleansing me now from all sin. C. Romans 5:9: Justified (righteous) by the blood of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21) Through the blood of Jesus I am justified, made righteous, just as if I d never sinned D. Hebrews 10:29, 13:12: Sanctified (made holy) by the blood of Jesus Through the blood of Jesus I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God. My body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus. The devil has no place in me and no power over me. V. Jesus Came by Water and by Blood the Spirit Bears Witness A. By water He is the Great Teacher John 15:3) B. By blood He is the Great Redeemer shed His redeeming blood a substitutionary sacrifice C. The Spirit bears witness 1. To the water of the Word and to the blood of the sacrifice.

8 VI. 2. The power and anointing of the Holy Spirit makes it effective. D. Learn things by heart by saying them by mouth Paul: confess first, believe second (Rom. 10:9 10) Example of Total Victory by Praise A. 2 Cor. 10:3 4: We do not war after the flesh the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to pull down strongholds. B. 2 Chron. 20 King of Judah gained total victory without carnal weapons 1. Jehoshaphat feared, and proclaimed a fast (v. 3) 2. Gathered the people together (v. 4) 3. Jehoshaphat prayed (v. 5ff) 4. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit: a word of prophecy (v. 14) 5. This revelation was life giving (v. 18) 6. Praised the Lord God with a loud voice (v. 19) 2013 Derek Prince Ministries International